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Subject: Re: Status of USB, TX chipset, PIIX3, etc.
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 97 19:31:37 -0700
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From: Parag Patel <parag@cgt.com>
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On 8/5/1997 8:57 PM, Michael Smith (msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au) said:

>On the contrary, I would be overjoyed to see USB succeed.  However, it
>adds components to the desktop cable mess, and these components currently
>cost real money.  When I can buy a USB hub/controller interface chip in
>small volumes for under AUD$50 each, I'll say that USB has hit the
>"geek" market.
>
>In 10k volumes, an integrated USB target/micro device would have to be
>under the AUD$1 mark before it is cost effective.  Try getting that
>sort of quantity pricing on the Z8 or PIC micros commonly used in
>serial mice these days...

I just saw an ad at the back of the latest EETimes (Mon Aug 4, 1997 #965) 
from Cypress <http://www.cypres.com>.  The ad claims that they're selling 
the first USB uC under $1.00.  (But they don't mention quantity.)  It's 
their CY7C63nxx series of parts designed for joysticks, gamepads, and 
keyboards.

It's an 8-bit microcontroller including RAM (128 or 256 bytes depending 
on the part), EPROM (4Kb or 8Kb), a USB serial engine, and a transceiver. 
 It has a clock-doubler and "instant-on" low-power features.  Number of 
I/Os (whatever those are) vary from 10 to 39.  The ad claims it's a RISC 
core but doesn't say what's in it.

The also advertise a development system is $495 including an emulator, 
assembler, debugger, software for mouse/joysticks, and a USB code 
library.  Not quite at the geek hobbyist level, but certainly not 
outrageous either.

For the record, I'm not am employee, customer, a contractor, or in any 
way affiliated with Cypress.  I'm just keeping an eye on things as I'll 
probably end up writing USB drivers for customers soon.


    -- Parag